Chlorine Lock ?

[Big Splash]

Yes. 1st time I testedi gor 100. Tested again and tried to be so careful with that litle black dot...then about 80. Not diluted. We have been adding bleach 2x's per day, morning and night in the amouts that will bring it up to 25ppm. My son took over the testing for me as I became frustrated not knowing if I was doing it correctly. Watermom said to get the FC to 25ppm and get it to hold overnight and then for good measure keep it at that level for another day and then start backing off with the goal of maintaining 8-15ppm. I hope I am understanding this correctly. I will say that my pool looks sparkling and clear but I also understand this will be short-lived if I do not stick with the program. It needs a good vac but these 101 degree days are miserable! Thank you for your continued advice and support!

1st... Congrats on seeing the pool sparkle!!! To me, it's like the pool is smiling back

Just a couple things to consider... You said, "I am smelling that chlorine smell for the first time in a very long time". That smell, if still there, may be an indication your shock time is not yet over. PoolDoc can correct me, but I believe that could mean there is something in your pool binding with free chlorine to make chloramine. It's the chloramine that is what you are actually smelling. Have you done the combined chlorine (CC) test after testing for the FC? Ideally, you want that reading to be zero and that will also confirm your shock treatment was successful. When your pool is clear and doesn't smell, you know your in cruise mode.

At 80 CYA, you're gonna need extra testing R-0871 reagent. Buy the 2oz bottles instead of the 0.75oz. Consider draining the pool a little at a time to get that number down. Then by next season opening, you'll wanna be back down to about 50.

Enjoy

[mjsboone]

I do not believe the shock time is over yet either according to my numbers (which I cannot tell you with certainty what they are right now-my son is not home) however, your comment regarding my smelling chlorine faintly for the first time had me worried. I have been out around my pool this afternoon sniffing away trying to smell chlorine which I am proud to report, I smelled nothing! I believe that I must have been smelling the remnants of the bleach bottles! Yesterday, when I started to panic about running out of reagent, which we did this morning, I ordered another bottle without even looking at the ounces. I just do not want to lose ground because I cannot test for another day or two. Ugh!

[Big Splash]

Don't be worried so much. A slight smell isn't worth stressing over. A strong smell is a warning sign.

I ran out of reagent myself for about 5 days earlier this month. I test every day. I just kept adding my typical 1/3rd of 121oz 8.25% each day. Next test after getting my package shipment was right where I expected.

If you order again, use the Amazon store here and the forum will get a small piece of the sale.

http://poolforum.com/amz/

[mjsboone]

I did order through Amazon link on website.

[Big Splash]

[mjsboone]

Yikes! Pool experts, I believe I have screwed up my pool even worse! Received new bottle of reagent this afternoon and tested tonight. My numbers...FC 36, CC 7. I kept putting bleach in morning and night for the past 3 days hoping I would keep up the progress we were making in the numbers. I far surpassed the 25ppm I was shooting for. And went way up in CC also. Pool is not quite as clear as it was a few days ago and saw some algae on bottom-not a lot. Looking for some guidance please. Did the supposed chlorine lock break and,even worse, did I keep adding when I should not have.? I starting to freak out again!

[PoolDoc]

In a complicated situation like yours, it's hard to track the changes unless you record and present them systematically.

If you would please us the form, http://pool9.net/pf-hist-form/ to enter your observations. Feel free to post earlier observations if you have retained them.

Let me know when you have a couple of records up, and I'll take a look.